Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

Well 'this defense' just shut down the second highest scoring offense in the NFL.

Hopefully the Talib injury is minor, he has transformed this pass defense. Arrington all of a sudden looks like a stud inside, Dennard is living in receiver's hip pockets, McCourty is hitting his stride at safety.

It's been a long time since I felt confident about 'this defense' going against anybody, let alone a good offense, but here we are. You put Gronk back on the field and it's hard to imagine any team in the NFL hanging with these guys on either side of the ball.

Another litmus test next week. If we can beat the 9ers, I think you can legitimately say this team has beat the top 3 teams in the NFL (outside themselves).

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

We underestimated the quality of our SEC LBs as Gruden kept calling them over and over and over and over again.

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

No doubt there has been a transformation since Talib started playing - hope we see them all on the field Sunday.

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

Not everyone did. Some thought it was a matter of time, plus making a few key changes, which the coaching staff did. It's all gone as predicted:

- Move McCourty to FS and protect the deep part of the field
- Get Arrington away from the outside CB; he's been unexpectedly great in the slot
- Acquire Talib and pair him with Dennard outside and play aggressive press-man coverage
- Once your secondary can actually cover, start letting your talented front 7 play to its talent level, instead of holding them back

The defense is now unrecognizable from earlier in the year. And it should get better once Chandler Jones is fully recovered.

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

Those three players in their roles have made this Defense better and i will add Gregory over Chung has made the Group much better as well. Chung only should Start if there is an injury if not use Chung in a reserve role.

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

The D is aggressive now and dictating the action rather than being passive. Blitzes work.

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

This is not the same D.

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

I am curious to see what the D does vs. Kaepernick. I hope Spikes punishes him every time he runs!

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

Except it's not "this defense" anymore.

It's a completely reworked secondary, it's a team that blitzes much much more than it did, (based on impressions, haven't seen stats to back that up) and it's a team that challenges receivers much more aggressively than it did.

Re: Remember when we all thought 'We can't win with this defense"?
 

That's the point.